Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD. The VA needs to obtain a new medical opinion that addresses whether these conditions are related to service and if so, which specific stressors in Vietnam contributed to their development.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and need for further examination. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and personality disorder, are being evaluated in light of his service history.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, finding that the current diagnoses are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's mental disorder, including depressive and anxiety disorders, warrants a disability rating of 70 percent since September 21, 2017. The effective date is not earlier than July 5, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with opioid use disorder in full remission, but denied service connection for PTSD. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's anxiety and opioid use disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities contributed to his death, and thus granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various psychiatric disabilities, including depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder without agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection for PTSD and related psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The TDIU claim is also being deferred until further development on the service connection issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear etiology and need for additional examination. The issues include migraine headaches, basal cell carcinoma, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As a result, the benefit of doubt doctrine will be resolved in favor of the Veteran and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The effective date for this award will be determined by the AOJ.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, impaired learning, and learning disability due to being hospitalized for meningitis. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for old myocardial infarction and CAD is denied, as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's PTSD with depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances is also denied, as it does not meet criteria for a 70% rating. Appeals for service connection for back injury, high cholesterol, hypertension, and esophageal condition have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically depression and alcohol/cannabis use disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to confirm the Veteran's reported stressor of seeing another soldier drowning during his period of basic training and six weeks of additional training at Fort Lewis, Washington. The case will be reviewed again after attempting to corroborate this stressor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, were granted service connection as they are related to their military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and to ensure substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The appeals are related to increased ratings for various musculoskeletal disorders, including anxiety disorder, broken fingers, ankle issues, and cold injuries.